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The Cross and the Jukebox: The Great Speckled Bird

Russell MooreDean of Theology, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

A listener wrote in that she remembers from when she was a child her late father singing a song by Roy Acuff, "The Great Speckled Bird." The listener said she found the song beautiful, but she had no idea what it's about. What is this speckled bird and what does it have to do with Jesus and the Bible?

Well, it turns out this song has a lot to do with the so-called "Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy" that raged in American Protestant denominations in the early twentieth century. Beyond that, it has a lot to do with how Christians ought to receive criticism and opposition.

On this week's episode of "The Cross and the Jukebox," we listen to Mr. Acuff sing about that speckled bird and look at where it comes from in the Bible, and why it matters. Listen in, and be sure to send me an email to [email protected] about what song you'd like us to talk about and why.

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